Automatic switch



y 1933. T. w. THIRLWELL AUTOMATIC SWITCH Original Filed 001;. 5, 1929 INVENTOR ATTO R N EYS 1 7 ing, in which Patented May 23, 1933 PATENT OFFICE THOMAS WILLIAM THIRLWELL, OF ST. ALBAN S, WEST VIRGINIA AUTOMATIC SWITCH Original application filed October 5, 1929, Serial No. 399,589. Divided and this application filed Kay 24,

1932. Serial No. 613,298.

This invention relates to automatic switches designed for controlling separate circuits and is divisional subject-matter of an application for United States patent filed 43 b me on or before October 5, 1929, Serial 0. 399,569, and has for the primary object the provision of a switch especially adapted to control an automobile direction signal having means whereby the switch may be manually closed prior to a change in direction of travel and thereafter the manually operated means automatically opened, together with auxiliary means to automatically close the switch prior to the opening of the manually operated means, so that a signal may be rendered active prior to the direction change and maintained in an active position until the change is completed.

With this and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features 1 of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

r .For acomplete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the follo wing'description and accompanying draw- Figure 11s a v ing the switch as applied to the steering column of an automobile, one section of the switch housing being removed.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view, il-

lustratingthe manually operated switch arms positioned to close the switch. Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating amounting for'the switch arms.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatical view illustrating the wiring diagram.

Referring in detailto the drawing, the numeral 10 illustrates a steering column of an automobile having the usual steering post to which the steering wheel 11 is secured. A suitable casing 13 is mounted upon the column 10 by bolts 14 and is provided with an offset portion in which is yieldably mounted an' insulating block 15 provided with a slot 16opening outwardly through one edge thereof. A terminal post 17 is v 3d fragmentary view illustrat-;

carried by the block and is connected to an electric source 18 by a conductor 19 and the electric source is connected to a ground 20. The binding post 17 extends through the block 15 for pivotally supporting upon opposite faces of the block switch arms 21 and 22 provided with laterally extending finger pieces 23 which project through openings 24 in the casing 13. The switch arms 21 and 22 are movable into and out of engagement with contacts 25 and 26 located upon opposite faces of the block 15 and are secured to the latter by screws or like fasteners. The switch arms 21 and 22 are of substantially arcuate shape with their free ends projecting beyond the'block and carrying rollers 27. The contacts. 25and 26 are provided with angularly related portions 28 extending into the slot 16 between which is located a resilient switch arm 29 secured to the binding post 17 and located within the slot 16 and projectinlgoutwardly .of the opened and of the slot. he contacts 25 and 26 are connectedto electric signals 30 and 31 by conductors 32 and 33 and said signals are electrically connected to grounds by conductors A sleeve 35 is secured. to the steering post within the casing 13 and has formed thereon oppositely disposed cams 36 and 37. A cam rib 38 is also formed on the sleeve 35 and is provided with spaced ends 39 bevelled in opposite directions with the free end of the flexible switch arm 29 positioned therebetween when the vehicle is proceeding in a straight course.

The pivots for the switch arms 21 and 22 are of the frictional type so that said switch arms wiil maintain either a circuit breaking or circuit closing position when moved into either of said positions.

In operation the driver j of the automobile desiring to indicate a turn in one direction ,will move the switch arm 21 into engagement with the contact 25 completing a circuit to one of the signals and when the steering wheel 11 is turned to guide the vehicle in a corresponding direction, the switch arm 29 rides upon the cam rib 38 engaging the contact 25 and on a slight further turning of the steering wheel 11, the cam 36 disengages the switch arm 21 from the contact 25 so that when the steering wheel 11 is turned in a reverse direction to cause the 5 vehicle to travel in a straight course, the circuit to the si nal already illuminated, will be broken by the switch arm 29 riding off the cam rib 38. When the operator desires to indicate a signal in the opposite direction, the'switch arm 22 is moved into circuit closing position and the heretofore operation relative to the switch arm 21 is repeated, and ,"after completing the turn and the steering wheel 11 returns to its initial position, the 15 circuit to the last named signal is broken by the switch arm 29 riding off the cam rib and disengages from the contact 26.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A switch of the character described comprising a casing mounted upon a steering column and formed at one side with an extension, a sleeve secured upon the steering rod and mounted for rotation within the casing, diametrically opposite cams on the exterior of said sleeves, a cam rib on the sleeve and having cam faces in convergent relation, an insulating elements in said extension and carrying spaced contacts, switch levers mounted in the extension and manually moved into engagement with the contacts and engaged by the cams for disengaging said switch levers from said contacts, and a resilient contact arm connected to said switch levers and movable into en- I gagement with one or the other of said contacts by the cam rib. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THOMAS WILLIAM THIRL WELL. 

